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Paradise Lost? Australian Environmental History - AUST1003
Students on quad lawn

 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of History and Philosophy
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Fee Band: 2 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

How has the landscape shaped the definition of what it means to be Australian? Why was the bush so often seen as a place of the weird and the monstrous? Have white Australians learned from Aboriginal relationships with the natural environment? Looks at the climatic, cultural, political and economic forces which have shaped the Australian landscape from the period before known human settlement until the present, taking a dynamic approach to the relationship between humans and their environment. Draws on a broad range of disciplines, including literature, geography, history, politics, sociology and cultural studies.


Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the course, students should have:
  • A broad overview of major themes and issues in the development of the natural Australian environment and the relationship of humans with this environment
  • A detailed knowledge of a few specific themes
  • An ability to evaluate primary evidence
  • An ability to evaluate arguments in secondary sources
  • An ability to develop explanations and arguments
  • Refined their development of explanations and arguments
  • Refined their research techniques
  • Refined their verbal presentation of ideas.

Assessment

  • Document analysis - 20%
  • Tutorial essay (2000 words) - 40%
  • Tutorial participation and exercises - 20%
  • In-class test - 20%

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.